BINGO!

If fifty four percent of China's population is male, it means that in a nation of 1.3 billion people, there will (theoretically) be fifty two million adult men without a prospective wife. Despite the potential for better egg rolls in Utah and a convincing answer to The Beatles' famous question about where do all the lonely people come from, this demographic imbalance is likely to pose grave social consequences for China, and will frame a massive case-study for the cultural implications of marriagelessness.

But even in a country of more promising odds, we still struggle to maintain a majority of holy matrimony. Statistically speaking (now that over fifty percent of American "I do's" end with "I don't,"), sustainable marriage is officially a minority institution. And based on the conventional banter of husbands poo-pooing their wives, one would also figure that even "successful" marriage is too often a grinding compromise of instincts and identity -- and that with due time and duress, even the most sincere and soulful lovers will no less indulge in the custom of testicular cynicism.

Perhaps it won't be surprising then (given the advancements in women's rights, life expectancy, and individual freedom), that the structure of traditional marriage would eventually harden into a stale survivalist shell of mergers and acquisitions. The shelf-life on monogamy could be a decent bet too, considering the constant mockery of single-source vagina being made by the parade of public infidelities and cultural contradictions. In the sleepy suburbs of Chicago, for example, I'm told of routine "swinging" -- not to mention blow-jobs on the bar mitzvah bus. Religious and political champions of "family values," appear increasingly medieval to the relatively silent secularity of common sense people (who strongly oppose their positions on social issues, including gay marriage). And even the recent day-time departure of Oprah Winfrey (the ultimate purveyor of "living your best life"), reminds us of the changing guard, and the modeling of new school partnerships that turn "Steadmans" into golden retrievers.

(So remember, China men, your women already eat dog as a delicacy).

But whatever the direction may be, in spite of all these evolutionary headwinds, I'll still believe in the conquering force of a loving marriage. I'll also believe that no matter how many times your flight is delayed, hijacked, or redirected back to the gate, there's always a happy landing for those who stay airborne (especially for those who fly Virgin).

In my personal flight-log of "favorite mistakes," there are myriad twists and turns that might have otherwise rendered me forever solo, once divorced, or in a circling pattern of "good enough." And backtracking throughout those tailspins of serendipity (both sweet and sour), I am rocked by the dumb fortune of every bad date, big miss, and broken heart that bounced me towards "BINGO!" -- the day I earned me some wings and met my wife.

It wasn't always easy and it wasn't always fun ... but it was always worth it.

Woof-woof.